Recent Advances in Bacterial Degradation of Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons occur in fossil fuels such as crude oil and consist mainly of hydrogen carbon. Although they are natural chemicals, refining results commercial products with new physico-chemical properties, which can increase their complexity toxicity, hamper degradation. The presence biodiverse microbial communities is a prerequisite for an effective homeostatic response to the various hydrocarbons, that contaminate ecosystems. However, removal depends on compartment contaminated (water, sediment, soil), molecular weight, toxicity not hampering activity. This paper reports different bacterial species involved biodegradation aliphatic aromatic hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbon contamination generally due co-presence mixture these from environment cannot rely only single but requires consortia. Versatile metabolism relies specific genes encoding key enzymes peripheral metabolic central pathways degrading polycyclic have potential attenuation contaminants, hydrocarbon bioremediation, through biostimulation (e.g., use surfactants, plants, earthworms, nanoparticles) bioaugmentation, be valid tool removing them actually soil, freshwater, groundwater, seawater.